Thanks again for your help and support.
You're welcome.
During my auger deployment issues, my rover had the tool kit, portable light, and both augers in the rover (I was surprised it allowed me to load the second auger in the first place).
I did remove the tools and light during the first attempt, which got the auger to finally unload some 30m away from where I wanted it. I had again removed the tools and light when I ran into the same problem at the second location, where I got 100m away and still couldn't unload the auger. The only other factors I could think of at the time was that night had fully fallen by the time I had gotten to the second site, and the fact it turned out to be in a small radio dead zone.
At least now I know that I shouldn't stare at the radio towers and ask myself why I have no connection with the base for map data.
If I was in such a position, I would probably try to tie/anchor/bolt/chain/duct tape a relay to the top of each tower....
Or using the equivalent of a broom handle and some spare wire to give relays a higher set antenna...
Although, if the main base communications and local/relay communications use different frequencies, it would make sense if the main towers could be equipped to also double as relays. (possible in game upgrade option?)
Nothing like a little unauthorized in the field modifications to improve work conditions as the CO's based somewhere else complain and fail to come up with a solid reason for not doing so... (Bah, bah, Black Sheep, or the MacGuyver approach...)
We're only human, after all, adapting is one of our strong points.
Although I can understand the difficulties with trying to implement such potential and flexibility into a game... one can hope and dream, anyways.
I can understand the need for limited resources, but one goal for self sufficiency should include a way to establish backup plans with whatever is on hand, 'just in case'. Utilizing existing mushroom, worm and algae growth to create backup starters, 'just in case'. Sort of relating to how we can mine and get resources to make parts in case something else goes horribly wrong with the base equipment.
I would assume if things went 'horribly wrong', help or resupply would take a considerable amount of time to arrive from even the 'nearest' outpost.
I am in no danger of running out of worms or mushrooms at the moment. I never touched either unless their densities were over 20-30. I am just curious of if there were ways to get nutrients.
I kept half of the starters/nutrients for worms and mushrooms unused, 'just in case' something bad happened.
Something bad, like I had happen in the demo. I had a mushroom bed 'die off' without warning, and one I started later also ended up with 0 density, along with the worm beds. I figured it was a demo thing or demo only bug, or else I had messed up. Although with the demo, I think I had Heater 2 at only about 10 or so, maybe it was to cold for the mushrooms and worms. I'm not very used to Celsius.
Full game I went 20 on Heater 2 once at Phase 5.
It is understandable if there is no way to get more GPR charges made on site. Probably a lot of specialized skills and equipment needed for that kind of stuff.
I do plan my missions fairly well, with plans to take a few soil samples while I am out... sometimes (well, more like very often) unplanned and occasionally long detours occur...
I consider Tools and Plibs to be 'standard issue' for one of the rovers... especially when just repositioning relays, or early on when first deploying weather stations and testing relays. Of which detours occurred that usually leads to the 'connect the dot nightmare'. I tend to start making my way back to the base about the time the radiation bar hits yellow. As of Phase 6, I got over 100+ soil samples, but only got maybe 20-25% of the map covered with soil samples...
The med bed usually suggests to take a unit of radicium and to stay in the base once it gets to like the 20+ range. My longer trips usually get it up to the 20-25 range for radiation, closer to 30 on one trip when I got slightly lost at night, with higher than normal radiation, with trying to find a safe path back to base without wrecking the rover on steep hills.
I still have like 10-12 radicium left.
So, there is no harm in just letting radiation go down by itself over time?
I went with Food and Plastic in mind for my first Algae batches... although I am up to my eyeballs in veggies now, with plenty of seeds, and stockpiling fish now... so I guess I can drain the food algae and start one up for medicines.
It again comes down to wanting to keep something in reserve, although it is less of a concern since there are plenty of starters for algae.
For now, I am technically stuck in Phase 6. Next time I got some time for MC:C, I will make another attempt to deploy the second auger. I got some Tetrahedrite (sp?) I really, really want to mine... (initial 'backup supplies' planning needing copper and lead among other things... )
Thanks for making such a fun and interesting game.
Edit:
Due to the fact I last saved and quit not long after getting hit by the auger issue, I decided to stop playing MC:C for the moment, in case the save data will prove useful for troubleshooting/debugging.
I didn't do much after being unable to deploy the second auger. I had basically packed up the portable light and tools back in the rover with the second auger, drove back to base and parked the rover in the 'garage' area. Then I did my usual rounds of checking stuff in the farm and bio lab hubs before doing a save and quit for the night.
If I knew where the saves were, I would just back them up and do a little trouble shooting myself, or otherwise see if just exiting and restarting MC:C would have fixed the issue. Since I don't know how to back up the saves, I decided to just stop playing, in case the cause happened to be also saved within the game save data, or within whatever logs the game might keep.
Please let me know if you will want any of that info (and how to provide it and where to send it), or if it will be better for me to just continue on in the game and see if the issue persists.
End Edit:
Edit 2:
Is there any need for my save data or logs or anything?
Or would it be safe for me to continue on with MC:C and see if the auger deployment issue persists?